Kalanchoe plant named ‘Keira’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Kalanchoe  plant named ‘Keira’, characterized by its medium in size; upright, uniform and moderately vigorous growth habit; medium-sized dark green-colored leaves with crenate margins; uniform and freely flowering habit; single medium-sized white-colored flowers; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana.

Cultivar denomination: ‘KEIRA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe plant, botanically known as Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Keira’.

The new Kalanchoe plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Hinnerup, Denmark. The objective of the breeding program is to create new uniform Kalanchoe plants with attractive foliage and flower coloration.

The new Kalanchoe plant is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Evita’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,018. The new Kalanchoe plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor on a single flowering plant of ‘Evita’ within a population of plants of ‘Evita’ in a controlled greenhouse environment in Hinnerup, Denmark on February 18, 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Kalanchoe plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Hinnerup, Denmark since May 15, 2008 has shown that the unique features of this new Kalanchoe plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Kalanchoe have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Keira’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Keira’ as a new and distinct Kalanchoe plant:

-   -   1. Medium in size; upright, uniform and moderately vigorous         growth habit.     -   2. Medium-sized dark green-colored leaves with crenate margins.     -   3. Uniform and freely flowering habit.     -   4. Single medium-sized white-colored flowers.     -   5. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the mutation parent, ‘Evita’. Plants of the new Kalanchoe differ from plants of ‘Evita’ primarily in flower form as plants of ‘Evita’ have double-type flowers.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Simone 2000’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,319. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hinnerup, Denmark, plants of the new Kalanchoe differed from plants of ‘Simone 2000’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe had larger flowers than plants of         ‘Simone 2000’.     -   2. Petal margins of plants of the new Kalanchoe were entire         whereas petal margins of plants of ‘Simone 2000’ were undulate         to dentate.     -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe and ‘Simone 2000’ differed         slightly in flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Kalanchoe plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Kalanchoe plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Keira’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet comprises close-up views of typical vegetative (upper left) and generative (upper right) leaves; upper (center left) and side (center right) perspective views of typical flowers; and side perspective views of a typical flowering stems (bottom) of ‘Keira’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer and autumn in 10-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Hinnerup, Denmark and under environmental conditions and cultural practices which closely approximate commercial Kalanchoe production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 19° C., night temperatures averaged 21° C. and light levels ranged from 10 kilolux to 50 kilolux. Unrooted cuttings were directly stuck in 10-cm containers and received long day/short night conditions (more than 14 hours of light) for four weeks; plants then received photoinductive short day/long night conditions (minimum 14 hours darkness) until flowering. Plants were 16 weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Keira’. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of Kalanchoe     blossfeldiana ‘Evita’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,018. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About two weeks at             temperatures of 19° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About three weeks at             temperatures of 19° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures of 19° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 24 days             at temperatures of 19° C. to 21° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant habit.—Upright, uniform and moderately vigorous growth             habit; very freely flowering with numerous compound cymes;             inverted triangle with rounded crown; appropriate for 9 to             13-cm containers.         -   Plant height at flowering.—About 22 cm to 26 cm.         -   Plant diameter at flowering.—About 22 cm to 24 cm.         -   Branching habit.—About two to six lateral branches develop             per plant; pinching (removal of the terminal apex) is not             required but will enhance lateral branch development. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 10 cm to 14 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 5 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1 cm to 2.5 cm.         -   Aspect.—Erect.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Close to 147B. -   Foliage description: Note: The following foliage description below     is the average ranges for both vegetative and generative leaves.     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple; generally symmetrical.         -   Length.—About 2 cm to 14 cm.         -   Width.—About 1 cm to 9 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Medium to deeply crenate to serrate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Glabrous, leathery;             succulent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:             Close to 136A; venation, close to 136A. Developing and fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation,             close to 147B.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 2 mm. Diameter: About 5 mm to 8 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper surface: Close to 136A. Color, lower surface: Close to             147B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and flowering habit.—Single flowers             arranged in compound dichasial cymes that arise from leaf             axils; uniform and freely flowering habit with usually about             12 to 25 flowers developing per inflorescence.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flowering response.—Under short day/long night             photoinductive conditions, about 62 (summer) to 76 (winter)             days are required; actual time to flower is primarily             dependent upon temperature and light intensity.         -   Post-production longevity.—Excellent post-production             longevity; plants maintain good foliage and flower substance             for about six weeks under interior environmental conditions;             flowers not persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Shape: Lanceolate to ovate. Length: About             1.5 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Color: Close to 157A tinged             with close to 149A; central line, close to 149A.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 10 cm to 15 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 3 cm to 8 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 2.1 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 1 cm.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: About four in a single whorl fused at             the base. Length: About 1 cm to 1.5 cm. Width: About 8 mm to             11 mm. Aspect: Upright to eventually perpendicular to the             pedicel. Shape: Rounded to ovate. Apex: Acute to obtuse.             Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 160B.             When opening, lower surface: Close to 157A tinged with close             to 149A; central line, close to 149A. Fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 155B; color does not change with             development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 155C             tinged with close to 149A; central line, close to 149A.         -   Sepals.—Appearance: Four fused at the base. Length: About             8 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute.             Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth; glabrous. Color, upper surface: Close to             146A. Color, lower surface: Close to 149A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1 cm to 6 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm             to 4 mm. Aspect: Erect to about 60° from vertical. Strength:             Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 147B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm. Diameter: About 1             mm to 2 mm. Aspect: Erect to about 90° from vertical.             Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to             147B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: About eight             per flower. Anther shape: Elliptic to oblong. Anther size:             About 1 mm by 1 mm. Anther color: Close to 20B. Amount of             pollen: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 20A. Gynoecium:             Pistil number: About three to five per flower. Pistil             length: About 9 mm. Style length: About 0.8 mm. Style color:             Close to 145A. Stigma shape: Round. Stigma color: Close to             145A. Ovary color: Close to 144B.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Kalanchoe. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have been     observed to tolerate temperatures from about 5° C. to about 30° C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have not     been observed to be resistant to pests and pathogens common to     Kalanchoes. 

1. A new and distinct Kalanchoe plant named ‘Keira’ as illustrated and described. 